1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

It is scary how quickly things can creep up on us. We are so often unaware of dangerous temptations lurking about until it is too late. This is why we need to always be on our guard.

Today I rode my bike to work. When I was on my way home, the bike path was completely free and clear as I pedaled along, leisurely engaged in my thoughts. When I got to the intersection where I needed to turn onto our road, a booming voice behind me suddenly erupted, “I’m behind you!” My heart lurched in my chest, the bike wobbled, and I almost fell to the ground.

Usually oncoming bikers give a little bit of warning, but this person silently approached like a cat on a mouse and didn’t make his presence known until he was directly behind me. I have no idea how long he was there, but it certainly was a surprise. I’m sure my loud outburst startled him, too.

It caused me to think of today’s Bible verse, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” How often we feel that we are completely protected when it comes to temptation. There are certain things that no one ever believes will cause them to fall, but it is dangerous to assume that your path is free and clear. God’s word says that all temptation is fair game and can sneak up on anyone who is not paying attention.

Thankfully, God is faithful. He promises to keep His children from being tempted beyond what they are able to endure. He will always provide a way to escape if we will only take it. Often the best way to withstand is to RUN! Don’t stick around when confronted with a bad idea. Protect yourself by choosing good friends who will warn you if they see any danger approaching. When an ungodly thought crosses the mind, immediately squelch it by replacing it with wholesome thoughts. When an inappropriate idea tickles the brain, think of the consequences, submit to God’s way, and resist the devil. If you do this, he will turn and ride the other direction.

Above all, always be prepared and alert. Don’t ride through life mindlessly pedaling along while thinking you are free and clear. As soon as you do, an unthinkable temptation will silently overtake you. Before you know it your heart will be pounding, your will-power will start shaking, and you just may fall off your bike.

I asked myself this question yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work. As I tidied up my bedroom and made the bed, the TV news reporter’s voice caught my ear. I paused from my chores to watch the footage of four crazy men who had the “brilliant” idea to skydive over an active volcano in Indonesia this week. Garbed in wing suits and parachutes, these daredevils dove from a helicopter and soared over Mt. Bromo in the East Java Province of Indonesia.

According to the broadcast the Red Bull Sky Dive Team could feel heat radiating from the earth and even saw some small eruptions coming off the surrounding peaks. One of the divers, Marco Furst, was recorded as saying, “We could feel the energy from the active volcano when we were right above the crater and could even smell sulfur in the air.”

I suppose these men thought they would be relatively safe as the volcano had only erupted three times in the past century with the most recent being in 2011. But who in their right mind would want to chance this? Even with only slight volcanic activity there is always a chance that another eruption could occur at any time.

Just this weekend, while attending a Memorial Day picnic, we heard the story of another thrill seeker, this one an airplane pilot. This man was known for his crazy antics in the sky. Yet today you cannot ask him about his feats because he resides in a nearby cemetery. He tried his tricks one too many times and disaster struck.

Most of us would not skydive over a volcano or try death-defying tricks in an airplane. Unfortunately, though, we choose to live so close to the edge when it comes to obeying God’s well-established guidelines for a holy and joyful life. Instead of taking seriously the Bible’s warning to stay away from every kind of evil, we often choose to see how close we can get without tempting fate.

Just one little look at an inappropriate website, one taste of an addictive substance, or one flash of anger over a perceived wrong can lead to a downward spiral that erupts into full-blown sin. How much safer it is to hold to the Godly conviction of keeping away from evil by putting a huge distance between yourself and temptations.

Put controls on your computer and use it in populated places where you will be held accountable for what you view. Don’t attend establishments where substance abuse might be a temptation. Avoid friends that will influence you in unhealthy activities. Focus on thankfulness for what you have instead of desiring what is not yours. Be very choosy about what movies you watch. These are some ways to protect yourself from a dangerous eruption of life’s molten lava.

I don’t know about you, but I am not a risk-taking kind of person. I wouldn’t even dream of skydiving over a live volcano. But even if I were a real life daredevil and were attracted to dangerous activities, there is one thing I would be sure to do – stay away from every kind of evil. The risk of getting too close is definitely not worth the thrill!

Love,
Mama

Welcome to Verses From Mama. Open these letters and receive words of truth, healing and hope written to all who long for a mama’s touch. ~Sandy